Bernie Sanders has accepted that Hillary Clinton is effectively the Democratic Party’s nominee for president, said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid on Thursday. He added that Sanders “needs a little time” to decide what his next step will be. He vowed to work with Clinton and defeat Republican nominee Donald Trump in the upcoming US Presidential elections, said a CNN report.
President Barack Obama has also formally endorsed fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton for president.
I don’t think there has ever been someone so qualified to hold this office. I’m with her, I’m fired up and I cannot wait to get out there and campaign with Hillary.President Obama
Obama and Clinton were rivals during the 2008 Democratic primary, which Obama won. Clinton went on to serve as Obama’s Secretary of State during his first term in office.
Following Obama’s endorsement of Clinton, the White House said that Sanders was not surprised by the nod of support.
The president has had the opportunity to speak to Senator Sanders three times in the last week, and as a result of those conversations, I think it’s fair to say that Senator Sanders was not at all surprised by the announcement.Josh Earnest, Spokesperson, White House
Sanders had earlier raised issues with The Associated Press’ declaration of Clinton as the nominee, saying that the race was not yet over, and the superdelegates could still change their mind. But as trends of the polling don’t appear to be changing, Sanders seems to have accepted that Clinton is now ahead in the game.
(With inputs from Reuters)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)